Another Commonwealth Flag was flying for the day on the Adur Civic Centre building in Ham Road, Shoreham.

Mr Mendoza said: “It is vitally important to stay in touch with the Commonwealth and show our unity.”

The Queen ‘broke’ the Commonwealth Flag outside the Great West Door at Westminster Abbey.

A message from her, which was read out in Worthing by Mr Smytherman, said: “Joining together as members of one worldwide Commonwealth community, and valuing the personal dignity and worth of every citizen, we raise this flag as a symbol of the ties of kinship and affinity that we cherish.”

The response read: “Our pledge is to support the Commonwealth, working together for a future in which there is freedom and justice and prosperity for all, with peace and understanding between peoples and nations.”

Charity teams from Cancer Research UK, Help for Heroes, Walking With the Wounded and Fields of Life took flags to the top of the UK’s four highest national peaks to raise funds and awareness.